Upcoming Webinar on Forced Labor and Corporate Social Accountability

Steptoe hosts Ambassador Luis CdeBaca from the US Department of State who will discuss renewed government emphasis on forced labor

We would like to extend a special invitation to join us for a webinar featuring Ambassador Luis CdeBaca, Director of the State Department's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, to discuss the new and increased US Government enforcement efforts to counter forced labor, including the use of forced and child labor in the production of US imports. From the perspective of his role as Chair of the Senior Policy Operating Group on Trafficking in Persons, he will discuss the Obama Administration’s vision for corporate social accountability and the enhanced focus on supply chains. He will also share information about his office’s Annual Trafficking in Persons Report and programs as tools to combat forced labor.

Steptoe partner Jonathan Drimmer will discuss the various risks to companies with suppliers that may engage in abusive labor practices, including litigation risks, as well as best practices for enhancing compliance with labor standards and regulations.

Presenters:

Ambassador Luis CdeBaca: In May 2009, Ambassador Luis CdeBaca was appointed by President Obama to coordinate US government activities in the global fight against contemporary forms of slavery. He serves as Senior Advisor to the Secretary and directs the State Department's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, which assesses global trends, provides training and technical assistance, and advocates for an end to modern slavery. Mr. CdeBaca formerly served at the Justice Department, where he was one of the country's most-decorated federal prosecutors, leading the investigation and prosecution of cases involving organized crime, human trafficking, and money laundering. He was awarded the Attorney General's Distinguished Service Award for his service as lead trial counsel in a forced labor case involving over 300 Vietnamese and Chinese workers in a garment factory in American Samoa. Mr. CdeBaca has also served as Counsel to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Jonathan Drimmeris head of the Business and Human Rights practice at Steptoe & Johnson LLP. Mr. Drimmer helps companies concerned about compliance with human rights norms and allegations of potential abuses, whether based on the nature of their industries, the high-profile nature of their brands, the location of their overseas operations, or in response to specific scenarios. He helps companies audit and assess their operations to identify risks and design effective compliance solutions, and represents them in litigation where necessary. A former deputy director in the Office of Special Investigations in the US Department of Justice, Mr. Drimmer prosecuted a number of high-profile cases involving major human rights violations, including some of the government’s most high-profile cases. Mr. Drimmer is a recognized authority and frequent media commentator on the Alien Tort Statute.